If You're Feeling Sinister

:)

Very nice songs with beautiful melodies, but I'm struggling with the vocal performance, as I was with Tigermilk. Okay, it has a fragility that matches the music, but there are passages where I am cringing at the singing.

Already a big fan of this. Very very strong just like their first album. It always annoyed me they didn't put singles on their albums

Tempting fate to give me this so soon after Tigermilk, a real downer. This is much better! Really lovely mixing - everything is really clear and lively. The compositions are more varied and interesting. And the instruments too.

good. fun. smooth.

A lush indie pop record.

Entspannte Musik, da hat bestimmt sufjan Stevens sich inspirieren lassen

Easily their best album for me and one of my favorite road trip albums. A perfect balance between bittersweet and playful melodies, I just love it.

Such a nice feelgood album. Will certainly return to this one.

Comfy music, I want to drink my coffee in a blanket and fall asleep on it.

It was like the good old british canterbury scene of the 70s translated into chamber folk/pop. Very light hearted music. I can't explain why, but I loved it.

Great alternative indie rock, loved it!

Good

Good

I got "Tigermilk" as my sixth album on this, and now at 639, I'll admit I don't really remember that record. Based on my review, this is pretty similar to that one, but I find myself enjoying this one a bit more than my rating would insinuate for that record (which received a 3). It's twee, subtle, but maybe the band came into their own, because after the first song, it won me over a bit. I don't think it's life changing, but it's certainly a solid record. Favorite tracks: "Me And the Major", "The Fox in the Snow", "If You're Feeling Sinister"

Why have I never listened to this? People bang on about it all the time, and Tigermilk. I thought I had enough B&S with Boy with the Arab strap, and occasional forays into Dear Catastrophe Waitress. Plus as soon as I discovered Nick Drake maybe they weren't quite the same for me. Enjoyed this. Still not as many outright bangers as boy with the Arab strap though, for me, but no denying this is really good.

It was good, a bit nostalgic and experimental at points.

Me deja con ganas de mas, pero es demasiado bueno. 8/10

Was incredible, not much that’s bad to say

I hated Belle & Sebastian and this album when I first heard them. Too fey for their own good, coming off as milquetoast instead of clever. I still think they are fey and sometimes milquetoast but love their music now. Not perfect, which doesn't matter when your heart is hanging off your sleeve

Didn't have high expectations for this, but pleasantly surprised. Jauntier than I was expecting and songs very melodic and ably performed

Ik word hier wel blij van. Singer / Songwriter achtig gevoel maar wel met de nodige variatie, zowel in nummers als instrumentgebruik etc. Erg fijne plaat om te luisteren. 4 sterren.

Don’t listen to Kelly. This music is simple, but not boring. It has a special charm and sincerity.

I've never heard of this band but I really like hearing new artists so I'm excited! There's something oddly interesting about the first track. The lead singer isn't a technically perfect singer but it's keeping me listening. I'm super into the random harmonica at times, that's part of what's keeping me here honestly. Like Dylan in the Movies kinda reminds me of a Crosby, Stills, and Nash song at some points. I think it's just the harmonies though. Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying and If You're Feeling Sinister are my favorite songs. I wouldn't say it's a perfect album but I genuinely enjoyed my listen.

favorite tracks - the stars of track and field, me and the major, the fox in the snow, if youre feeling sinister, judy and the dream of horses least favorite tracks - seeing other people, the boy who done wrong again

If Nick Drake wrote songs for Wes Anderson movies…

I enjoyed this album. The singer's voice sounded very similar to Nick Drake. Soothing sound.

This one holds so much nostalgic value for me that I can't rate it lower than a four. :') Highlights: Dylan in the Movies The Fox in the Snow

Nice change of pace from the last couple days. Pretty goood mix of tunes! Title track is so very solid. Judy and the Dream of Horses was a fave as well as Me and The Major

Really like this album

O: 3.9 M: 4

I like the song The Boy with the Arab Strap but have never listened to anything else by them, so I was pretty excited to listen to this. It didn't disappoint at all, just a solid indie album, will definitely listen to it again

I really liked this one, nice instrumentals, cool vocals and gay little lyrics, I think with this project I'm gonna try and focus more on the lyrics of music, since I kindof underrate those atm

Good album, I resonate with "get me away from here, I'm dying"

Liked this album a decent amount! Pretty simple, guess I liked the singer's voice and melodies the most. Could be a 3.5

Easy listening throughout with a few extra special morsels. These guys rose quickly for a reason.

More B&S Niceness

I didn’t think I was going to like this album when I started it, but after it picked up a minute in I started to enjoy it. It reminds of Simon and Garfunkel type music and I’d probably enjoy this again when I’m in that sort of mood

Forgot how much I enjoy these guys and probably enjoy them more now at a slightly older age than when I first heard them. Solid 4.5

File under "a decade or two ahead of its time". This sounds like the kind of stuff I listened to in college in the late 2000s. Definitely an early entry in the lo fi indy folkie genre that became so prevalent ten years later. I liked it!

Indie animado. No está mal...

Very cozy to listen to

I don’t have much to say about this album but I liked it. Felt like a more modern version of nick drake.

This is a wonderful album. I was right on this the minute it left Glasgow way back and once upon a time. There were other albums made, but this was the one that got me. Dylan in the Movies is the one I loved most. We were listening to it at the deluxe parties at the house on Park Street. You can't say it rocked, but it was different and alluring and it was luxurious to see all those drop dead gorgeous women vibing to it. Wish I could go back to one of those parties and hear it all again, once more, for the very first time.

Listened to at some point 4/5 Favorite song: get me away from here, I’m dying Wonderful indie vibes and super easy to listen to

Big fan 💕💕

Great acoustic. Singer songwriter album. Me and the major has an upbeat tempo. Lots of good tracks to listen to.

Wow. Much British.

I thought they were a contemporary indie band. I had no idea they had albums this far back. It was pretty good.

I've never heard of them, but really liked this. My sister can't believe I've never heard this album before.

listened to again delightfully warm and comfortable

Fey, but consistently brilliant. So close to getting 5 stars

Cool, mellow, and cutesy indie rock. Solid.

I'm in touch with my gentle sensitive side and can appreciate this.

Great Album! Reminds me of college and walking around campus and listening on my old brick ipod I had. I've heard a few songs from this album before, but having only listened to Life Pursuit from them, this was a little lighter but I liked it better maybe... Songs to Add to Library Seeing Other People Like Dylan in the Movies Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying

Sweet tunes. but not sickly sweet.

Good for hanging out on the couch.

I didn't like it, but my wife liked it mainly for nostalgia.

Not my style, rather monotonous vocal, simple melodies and lyric heavy. Despite all of that, I really enjoyed this album and it was a pleasure to listen to. It was one of the most cheerful records so far on this list (if not the only one) and somehow it got stuck in my memory despite being completely different from what I usually listen to. Never heard of Belle & Sebastian before, now it is the first band on this list that I will consider buying a cd/vinyl.

One of my favorite 60's folk rock songs released by a 90's indie band. Clearly derivative, but so well done it doesn't really matter to me. A sweet, warm listening experience. I don't love the production, and find the live release of these songs on If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican a better choice.

Unique album I’ve never heard before. Reminded me of an indie 90s smiths

Really lovely, nice to listen to. Has a bedroom vibe to it. Could do with a little more textural variation maybe?

1st July 2022 Listened in the morning while working from home on Adam’s last day! Then got the train in to the office and went to see LCD Soundsytem in Brixton with woody, Ben and Nilisha. Love this classic indie album. Reminds me of being in Edinburgh and will vickers.

Quite a nice and solid indie album. Their voices are really melodic and combined with the music, it makes me feel kind of happy but nostalgic. Lovely to have in the background.

Their best, the strength of the tunes overcoming familiar weaknesses.

Another collection of wonderful songs for sad boys.

This one took a while to grow on me but I really like it.

To chyba dobry czas na przerwe, bo kolejny jakosciowy pick, a jakos nie jestem w stanie wykrzesac nic na jego temat, if you're feeling sinister jest drugim albumem w dyskografii szkockiej bandy Belle and Sebastian z 1996, wiki okresla plyte jako indyjski pop, ale wydaje mi sie bardziej adekwatne okreslenie indyjskiego rokowania w tym przypadku, bo jesli wokale sa dosc popowe, to jednak kontent liryczny jest zbyt ambitny jak na muzyke popularna, tak samo ma sie sprawa aranzacji instrumentalnych ktore mozna osluchac na tym albumie, ciekawe blendy grania akustycznego i elektryka, podane w ciekawych proporcjach, co najlepiej slychac na like dylan in the movies, swietne wymiany pomiedzy gitara elektryczna a akustyczna, z dodatkiem smyczkow i klawiszy, zwienczone dzwiekami cymbalkowymi, a to wszystko na dynamicznym cztero minutowym traku, wiec jednak zamykajacym sie w standardzie popowym, bande tworzylo w czasie nagrania 8 osob, glownym wokalem i teksciarzem byl pan Stuart Murdoch, ktory klika rowniez w klawisze i szarpie gitarke, mam dziwne uczucie, ze jest to praca jednej osoby, az tak charyzmatycznie i imtymnie brzmia niektore z tekstow, wiec moze to jeden z pozytywnych dyktatorow bandowych, dodatkowo obdazony glosem zblizonym do Nicka Drake, nie wiem to z powodu barwy, czy tez same teksty jakos niosa w sobie odrobine glebokiego smutku ktore sa tak tozsame z Drakiem, ale jednak nie penetrujace tak gleboko, co do plejkowych pickow, to dodam openingowego the stars of the track & field i najbardziej osluchany utwor z tego 41 minutowego materialu wedlug spotifaja, czyli get me away from here, im dying, nadal nie jestem przekonany do tagu popowego ktory przylegl do tego albumu, ale slucha sie go jednoczesnie latwo, ale zaden z 10 trakow nie wydaje sie byc tutaj wcisniety na sile, a plyta potrafi zaskoczyc z piosenki na piosenke, wiec dobra odmiana od salsowatych rytmow dnia wczorajszego i idealny pick na wieczor w nowej celi, przez co pewnie na dluzej zapadnie mi calosc w pamiec

This is the second Belle & Sebastian album I’ve rated as a part of the 1001 albums. This really good (much better than the other) and I may have to go back and listen to all of their albums now.

One of their very best.

It's good, but as I put in the Tiger Milk comment: this is a band that I like but I really have to be in the mood for. I can't just listen to this on a whim.

4/5

Really enjoyed this one.

Don't know much about B&S except they seem a bit fey and bedwetting. However I quite like this...I did a bit of a Google and its considered their masterpiece....will try again with others. I like the different textures of the melody lines and the tunes are well hummable. Success. 3.5 but I'm gonna give it a 4. (Played it again. Still good. Still a 4)

I loved this one! Such witty writing.

Beautifully produced indy pop with interesting lyrics

Mjög kósí, tilvalin á viðburðarlitlum mánudagsmorgni.

Nice, chill stuff, fun lyrics

A solid step up from their debut. It doesn’t always have the most interesting arrangement, but the songwriting is nice and tight, and the melodies are such crazy ear worms.

Great vibes again, but no standouts to push it to 5 on this one.

(ￗ﹏ￗ )

Coolos.

ah, eu gostei. acho que vou procurar sobre os outros trabalhos, fiquei instigada. não sei pq mas a primeira música me lembrou bastante do sufjan stevens KKKK

Feels like The Kinks on speed. Probably a 4.5

Who are these people? Never even heard of this band. But, wow. Great stuff. My least favorite song was the first and I thought this was going to be a slog but after that it's nothing but slaps all the way through. Government funded art, I like it in this instance! Would definitely recommend

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Seeing Other People; Me and the Major; Like Dylan in the Movies; The Fox in the Snow; Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying; If You're Feeling Sinister; Mayfly; Judy and the Dream of Horses Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Very sweet melodies, lyrics not so sweet but great nonetheless. 4.5 rounded down

Ha sido una experiencia complejo oír este disco en este momento. A pesar del ritmo de las canciones cuentan cosas tristes o muy tristes. Y sin embargo es un gran disco que merece la pena ser oído y pensar en esos años 90. Desde "The stars of track & field", "Me and the Major", "Like Dylan in the movies", "The fox in the snow" una de mis favoritas y "If you're feeling sinister".

i wish i could give this a higher score but for me the vocals really detracted in a lot of places, the performance just sounds kind of phoned in. however, this is otherwise a great indie album that I could definitely see myself listening to again. I loved Like Dylan in the Movies. 7/10

The soft timbre of the vocals gave the whole album a more personal feel. 7/10

I like it a lot. Great album. 4 So close to a 5, "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" with "If You're Feeling Sinister" is so good!

Elska þetta band. Fannst gríðarlega gaman að fara aftur í menntó og slaka á í sófanum. Frábær plata!

This is the second recommendation for Belle and Sebastian from this list and at least the fourth of fifth album I've listened to as a whole from the band. I like the band in general. My introduction to the band was later in their carreer. The tracks on this album are easily identifiable as connected to the band I came to know. "Like Dylan in the Movies", "Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying", and "The Boy Done Wrong Again" were the tracks that stood out to me the most. This album gets 3.5 stars from me (rounding up to 4).

I'm beginning to realise that Belle and Sebastian aren't quite as twee as I first thought. I liked this, but I get the feeling there are better B&S albums.

Ömmmm bbabger?!

Really good! Gotta listen again.

Ist wirklich erstaunlich, welch gutes Songwriting die Schotten draufhaben; hab mich etwas an der allzu seichten & over-wimpy Art überhört, auch das schweineorgelige der verhallten Retro-Gitarren, das ich einst so klasse fand, find ich ein wenig dünn, ausgewaschen, wie ein Lieblings T-Shirt, zu welchem man aber dennoch immer wieder gerne greift und einen Snoopy Tanz zu den melancholischen Peanuts-Piano Klängen hinlegt. forever 4.2

Die lakonische Poesie, die gute Beobachtung, die Milde und natürlich der Witz - all das fließt mir hier mit dieser vermeintlichen Leichtigkeit entgegen: Was für eine wunderschöne Platte! Stimme in allem überein und gebe fast nur deshalb nicht schon wieder 5 Punkte weil ich das beim letzten Mal (für die Tigermilk) schon getan habe. Bescheuerter Grund, aber die Alltagsweisen aus Glasgow würden mir verzeihen. Diesmal neu entdeckt: Stuart Murdoch klingt streckenweise wie eine lispelnde Nico. Toll!

Mislim da mi je to njihov najbolji. Ima taman jedan dio albuma gdje su 3-4 pjesme odlične, inače šteta šta nije općenito cijeli album takav, glas me zna baciti na stranu, ali opet...mislim da ne bi toliko trebalo utjecati na rejting.

Although I like this album a lot, and it's touted as being B&S's finest moment, its just not as good as Tigermilk (which is up there in my top five all time favourite albums) or The Boy With the Arab Strap. Fox in the Snow is beautiful. I love this band so much.

Nice, interesting melodies

Love Belle and Sebastian's quirky very Scottish take on pop, their lyrics are outstanding poetry. "Words are Mightier than the sword and I could Kill you but with these words I would just make you cry!" lovely stuff. Favourite Track: Judy And The Dream Of Horses!

My first introduction to Belle & Sebastian was when Jack Black came into my record shop in Chicago singing "Jacob's Ladder" from Rush's Permanent Waves (which would be an automatic 5 stars stop the presses if it were in this top-1001 list which it damn well should be holy hell who put this list together anyways) and in mid-Lifeson-solo he stopped and asked me, and I quote, "holy shiite - what the fuck is that?" and I told him it's the new B... crap, no, that wasn't me. But still, that really was my first exposure to this old sad-bastard music and maybe I wasn't (yet?) an old sad bastard so I didn't hear them again for years. First off, let's put out there that Stuart Murdoch's vocals are tough. I'm not saying bad, I repeat: tough. My formative years were cut on either screechy, loud, or faux-macho (or sometimes all three) LEAD SINGERS, not the introverted sort that are what B&S is almost exclusively about. Now that's exactly what took me a long time to "get" and then - yes - like this group. They are introverted. They're introspective. And the music itself is kindasorta perfect for his voice. Or it may be the other way around. I just had a funny thought of David Lee Roth being tasked with singing for this band. I suspect these songs would sound pretty much exactly the same live in your living room, if any such weird occurrence like the band showing up at your house happened. The sound is small, dry, tight, and filled with haunting major 7ths and minor chords, all with a bit of polite emo vocals over and in-between it all. I love the melodies and although it's a stretch to call any of it exciting, it really sticks with you and upon repeat listens gets better and better. This album fits and is a particular mood and setting. That setting is kinda up to you but I'm thinking Saturday morning pouring rain, drinking coffee - just staring out a window somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. I would go for that right now in a second. Keeper. 7/10 4 stars

good album...not distinctive to me, but solid folk sound.

A band that should have been part of my youth, luckily I discovered them later in life and love them, first time I have ever listened to an album of theirs from start to finish and what a great one.

Indie animado. No está mal...

Tres bon album bien realise. A reecouter avec Marie. :) 4

Belle And Sebastian And Donovan 3.5

Showing off their prowess for sweet, bedroom/chamber pop Belle & Sebastian have one of their strongest albums in "If You're Feeling Sinister". Lyrically, the songs go from sweet, innocent stories to the melancholy with deftness and aplomb. While not as produced as future records, this album puts the focus squarely on the music and ambience.

Pretty good. Fell into the background a bit, but enjoyable.

I love this album! lets see how it holds up.

Had this on repeat all day! Loved the lyrics and indie pop sensibilities. Definitely heavily influenced the following decades of indie music.

Indie pop? Yes Please slightly more on the folky-ish side compared to other indie pop

Nice chill music

Mellow singer-songwriter album with some fun ideas.

chillig

Muy divertido

Sinister plays like a great forgotten album, couched in '80s indie, '90s attitude, and '60s folk-pop. It's beautifully out of time, and even if other Belle & Sebastian albums sound like it, this is where they achieved a sense of grace.

Love it.

Leuke ontdekking.

Can't believe this album was produced a quarter of a century ago. If I had to pick one word to describe Belle & Sebastian it would have to be "precious". There's just such a preciousness about them that would generally lead me to write them off. But I've always liked them and "stars of track and field" was my first exposure either sometime late high school or early college.

It's good but I know it already!

I often go to the park alone at night and eat Quavers whilst masturbating and watching the ducks swimming in the pond. I've never been caught. I honestly believe there's nothing wrong with it and the little show off ducks enjoy the attention. So, what are you going to do about it?

Tender and light, these songs are wonderful listens. Carried mostly by the thoughtful songwriting and Stuart Murdoch's soft vocal deliveries, this album is sinister in intent only. Sneaking out at night to meet a friend or a lover, having harmless fun under a full moon, and eventually parting with bittersweet feelings. It's a nice album :)

Liked it. Singer-songwriter acoustic vibe. Trumpet on some songs was a nice touch.

Not my favorite B&S but it's good.

Great alternative music, creative songwriting. A groove

I'm going to keep this short, this is my type of album. Very moody and melancholic and reminds me a lot of Vashti Bunyan, which is probably why I like it so much. But mainly the melodies on this album are perfect. They're calm, soothing, and make you feel like you should hop on your bike and ride around the neighborhood waving at random people. I am a little confused though, who's Belle and who's Sebastian! *57 lauging crying emojis*!!!

I guess I was feeling sinister...

Indie. Muy bueno.

good one

Pleasant. Liked the last song

I went through a Belle and Sebastian stage in med school. I’ll let you know when I finish it.

The hipstersauce my ears crave. Too many kids screaming in the background. Coupla bangers, like don't look back like dylan and title track.

I was feeling canhoto. Gostei das letras, se eu tivesse sido emo na adolescência daria 5.

This has been one of the more promising albums I've heard so far. I think it's a bit mellow for morning listenings while working but I will come back to this.

I had only heard Bell & Seb in passing, so this full-album-listen was a first for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it led me to The Boy With The Arab Strap.

blale e seblastian

Liked!

good album, i like them a lot, not a 5 but a good 4

Lovely

Really like this album, although I may be a little biased as they are local to me. Nothing ground-breaking musically, but a beautiful collection of ear-pleasing songs. Only slight let down are the recorders on 'Judy and the Dream of Horses' - nobody needs that.

Fun

I'm getting more lazy with listening to these and with my reviews but I really enjoyed this album and 100% would listen to this again. Maybe this weekend in the sun.

nice

Really relaxing and easy to listen to. Great album for background music to chill.

Good night album. Solid all around

Pretty conveniently, I listened to Tigermilk exactly two weeks before getting If You’re Feeling Sinister, so I had a good comparison point. It’s interesting that Belle and Sebastian released this just five months later, because it mostly feels like more of the same. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s still a pleasant, breezy listen with some nice instrumentation and a handful of good tracks. However, this album feels a little slower and less upbeat, and by the final stretch, I was starting to lose interest. There just isn’t much here that builds upon what Tigermilk already did. Still, it’s a nice album overall, even if I found the first album a bit more engaging and memorable.

It's quite reminiscent of Nick Drake at points which I do like. But it's also got a kind of twee vibe that I don't like at all. So I guess this sits somewhere in the middle.

It was OK. I like the storytelling but it’s a bit twee for my tastes.

Just as with their other album on the list, it gets boring after a while. Song by song it’s not so bad, but an entire album sucks some joy out of it. Particularly when Like Dylan in the Movies is the only enjoyable track. The others are merely decent. 5/10

Some decent songs but the vocals are too weak to want to listen for long. 3 stars or C-.

It's ok

Feeling mid.

With the best will in the world I’ve just never been able to take to B&S. I am a fan of Murdoch’s lyrics are there are some good tracks but overall the feyness gets too much. I really tried my wee Scottish heart out. 3.5 rounding down

Inoffensive had a good time, but probably won’t listen again

enjoyable

While I enjoy the indie sensibilities of an album like this, the careful wounded weepy fragile voice starts to grate after a while.

Like it 3/5

6/10 - nice and relaxing pop indie music from Scotland

It's a fun bubbly album and I always enjoy listening to Belle and Sebastian. As an album, I liked this so much more than Tigermilk. I like The Stars of Track and Field, Seeing Other People, and Of You're Feeling Sinister the most. Still, the album does feel pretty samey and I was ready for what's next by the end.

Listening session: june 16th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: nice indie album with some catchy song and some forgettable ones, but it’s good for staring out of the window like you’re in a movie Favourite tracks: Seeing Other People, Like Dylan in the Movies & The Fox in the Snow

Overall Rating - 2.50/5 (5.00/10). Very mid-90s Indie Pop. All of the titles (including the album) are very much coffee house pretension and give the album a half-star penalty.

Not a bad album, the singers voice reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. I do find that to appreciate this sort of music I have to be in a very specific mood, contented I think they call it. Anyway I can see myself giving this album a spin on an easy Sunday morning

I liked it!

Gillar deras sound, men det blir snabbt lite mycket av samma.

Ja det är vad det är. Det är inte dåligt, det är inte direkt bra heller.

The instrumentation is fairly well done. The subject matter and Singing are rather annoying. Not sure I would listen to it again. My friend described it as Puff the Magic Dragon Karaoke. I think that's a perfect description. I don't quite dislike it as much as he did though.

Not my style but it was a nice chill one

easy listening

Hated this WAY less than I thought it was going to, was about to give it 4 stars when I saw that I was listening to a different song of theirs on a different album. Otherwise it's still good - 3.5 stars.

Seeing Other People stood out. Not my kind of music, but it was ok to listen to. 3/5

Nice listen, a few standout songs but nothing super memorable

This list is never beating the accusations that it's too crowded with sadboi indie pop, is it? That said, Belle and Sebastian turn out to be very good sadboi indie pop, being more upbeat and brighter musically than I had expected. It's certainly Britpop adjacent, and has more of a sense of whmsical melancholy than the more depressing or angry songs that were dominating the charts back in the late 90s. This album kind of washed over me in a pleasant enough fashion that I'd definitely listen to more from Belle and Sebastian.

Very soft alt-rock

Ho hum

I've always found them very boring and I still do

You need to seek therapy.

There was some good in here, but the singer's voice recalled irked me and made it hard to enjoy the songs. The instrumentation is good and I would probably like these songs with a different vocalist. Could feel a bit bland at times. Favorite Track - Me and the Major Least Favorite Track - The Fox in the Snow ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an inoffensive listed. I never hated my time. But I also dont know if i could pick a single song out if they were played again.

tem gente que deve amar muito esse álbum

Is this sexier yo la tonga or sexless yo la tengo? I don't know.

Felt very generic indie. Man in mopy voice singing to some chords.

This was decent. Got an album from them a long time ago and I think had similar feelings. Hard to tell 300+ albums later. 6/10, closer to a 7

Не чув цей гурт. Інді поп(

7/10 - Reminds me of the postal service at times. Really nice Fav Tracks: Me and the Major, If You're Feeling Sinister Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅ Album Cover -------Makes me feel like im the side character in an hbo mini series

Not unpleasant or unlistenable, but I suspect it's as trendy and has as much substance as the froth from soy milk single origin latte.

Soft indie that sounds pretty good but just kind of settled in and didn't go anywhere remarkable

absolutely horrendous start to a pretty ok album 2.5

a bit whiny

Perfectly pleasant Indie pop. That's it really.

Ok damn. I wouldn't call this incredible but it is impressive. I feel the same level of intrigue that I did about Younger Than Yesterday. The songwriting is a clear step up though. Not every song I would go back to, but I can't not admit that most of these songs are very well-written. Things were felt on each of the three listens I gave this album. I wanted to give this a 5, but I'm going to let this one marinate and stay with the 4. I find it very similar to my thoughts on the Liz Phair album except that got a 5 because I was in love with the concept. This has a lot of 5 star songs, but I am not comfortable with calling it a 5 star album right now. I will update if that changes, but the real important thing is that I like this record (8/10, 4/5 on this scale) (Update: 3/5)

Perfectly pleasant but a bit too nice and found myself wanting more. At times it was just far too slow, can only imagine this being quite good ambience music, maybe something played in a restaurant, and I’m not meaning that in a derogatory way.

3.5 Stars this album was an easy listen, pleasant, and I did not expect to hear a harmonica on a Scottish indie pop album

Il faudrait que je réécoute car j’étais dans le train Mais j’ai bien aimé la vibe indie

I feel quite conflicted by Belle and Sebastian. I have their first album, Tigermilk, but I find the vocal delivery on Tigermilk and this album just a bit too cloying and the music a little bland, certainly to play through in a single sitting.

It was lovely. Intimate, raw, and melodically rich. But Murdoch's voice didn't quite cut it for me.

nice indy pop

There is a category I created in this generator known as "if 'fair enough' was an album". Anyone who had been doing this journey for at least 100 albums knows exactly what I'm talking about. And, like so many other albums in this journey, it's fair enough. It's 1990s alternative Rock music one may hear on the radio. Nothing sticks out, but at least it's fairly enjoyable. Favorite Track: "The Stars Of Track And Field".

A different type of music at the right time. Listenable. 3+

I really wasn't expecting much from an album and group described as "twee" (which means nothing to my American ears) and a vocalist named Stuart in a group with neither a Belle or a Sebastian (Beauty and the Beast references?), but I was delightfully surprised. The music and lyrics are pretty good and very listenable, and the vocals don't wear on me the way others have reported.

Not my favorite Belle & Sebastian, but I would never say no to listening.

Often a little underwhelming, but that may be how they prefer to be

No está mal, en el sentido que es musica que si está puesta no me dan ganas de cambiarla de manera impulsiva. Ahora, no me pondría a escucharla por voluntad propia.

The singing (Sebastian's?) is weak, wobbly, and often a little out of tune. And the style of music really contrasts with the more rage-filled, emotional tinges found in most "groundbreaking" genres of the time (alternative rock, emo rock, grunge, golden-age hip-hop...). Someone looking for those emotions in Belle & Sebastian's music will be left feeling underwhelmed by what Wikipedia describes as "twee pop" (among other made-up labels). It's worth noting, also, that the band doesn't contain anybody named either Belle or Sebastian. Another reason to feel disappointed when you show up to one of their gigs. The Stars of Track & Field makes for a simple, mellow way to start the album. The slow building and layering of heavier guitar/percussion is pretty cool. A rise, then a fall, then another rise... Building sonic tension and release can be a difficult skill to learn, but B&S have done it fairly convincingly here. In contrast, Seeing Other People is a relatively "monotonous" track, though by no means does that make it bad. A fast, driving rhythm accompanied by some understated piano and percussion parts. I'm starting to tire of this guy's voice just a little bit – it isn't particularly impressive – but if the other instruments compensate for it, there isn't much to complain about. And compensate they do. Me and the Major might be the strongest yet. Harmonicas are out of place for the 90s time (this isn't boundary-pushing music by any means) but it's played very well and adds a playful, honky-tone mood to the whole thing. The Fox in the Snow is beautiful and exactly what I was looking for in this band's sound. Judy and the Dream of Horses is another standout and a weirdly festive way to end the album. It comes after The Boy Done Wrong Again, which might be the only genuinely weak effort here. 3/5 Key tracks: The Fox in the Snow, Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying, Judy and the Dream of Horses

It’s fine I guess.

This kinds felt like something I should love more than I do. It’s undeniably pretty and intimate. It’s easy to sit with but I wouldn’t say it ever fully pulls me in. Most of it drifts by as a pleasant blur. Still, I have a sense I’m missing something deeper beneath it all, which hopefully I’ll find with a relisten at some point. Nothing hit hard, but it left a quiet impression.

A perfectly inoffensive acoustic album. Like Beck but without anything interesting going on.

Eh. It’s fine.

It's like Nick Drake just retired with a pub band

Hade aldrig fattat att det var ett band, trodde det var en duo! Kul lyssning. Plus för roliga texter. Får lite psykos av att lyssna för mycket på det här dock, men fan, det här soundet måste varit riktigt tidigt år 1996? Stark trea!

man e ju indie men man blir lite trött på det

Lyssnade mycket på B&S i tonåren, inte denna platta så mycket. Stuart Murdochs röst (och kanske även låtskrivande) har ju nån sorts snäll och försiktig charm, likt Paul Simon, och den har jag alltid gillat. Saknar kanske lite mer variation i arrangemanget, som på senare plattor.

has some very high points but also some very low points overall 3.5/5

It was a pleasant enough album, some nice folk music.

Great album for having one unique sound. A fantastic sound but hard to differentiate the tracks. The title track and the last track are among my favorites. Super happy to listen to one of their full albums.

This was a few tracks in before I really caught the groove. It was an interesting and enjoyable listen. I favored a couple. 3.5/5

I liked it. His voice kind of grinded on me after a while so couldn’t go higher.

I liked this album. Think the rating could improve with additional listens, but ain’t nobody got time for that. 3.25/5

i've always been lightly positive towards everything i've heard from belle and sebastian, but i'm going to be honest, it's really hard for me to feel very strongly about this album and music. it's nice, it's pleasant. that's kind of it. i don't feel very strongly about it. it's not bad, but i don't know if it is ultimately very compelling.

Pleasant enough, opened really strong. After one listen I felt as though I had to give it another go as it felt like it simply washed over me for the most part. Belle and Sebastian are good at what they do, this type of music is what I like to call “Library Music” it’s soft and a tad too ‘twee’ for me at times. Could never get into The Decemberists for the same reasons. Another, not for me albums but there were aspects on here that I did enjoy. 3 stars

I think this album isn't named appropriately. Nothing about this made me feel sinister.

Wel leuke vibes, maar ook niet heel wauw

mooi ma ni zo iets waar k veel nr zou luisteren

Didn't expected it to be soft/folk rock. Good as a background music, but done nothing else for me and not memorable for me at all

Most of this album was pretty ok, with a few highlights. Me And The Major had some nice harmonica work. Like Dylan In The Movies was pretty chill. If You're Feeling Sinister was nice. Overall I would normally rate it a 2, but I don't know, it kept a smile on my face for most of it so I'll bump it up. Best song: Me And The Major

Rating: 6.5/10

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Not a huge amount of thoughts about this one. 3/5 ⭐️ 77/1089

Nick Drake for the twee crowd. It could have been on the Garden State soundtrack or a similar late 00s movie. Not bad at all but also kind of lame.

2.5

This was pretty ok. I bet I would really like it if I gave it a bunch of listens.

Me and the Major thought this album was alright.

знову відчувається слід інспірації бобом діланом ... (за що мені це?) однак, насправді, тут він здебільшого гарно впасований. його не відчуєш, якщо не знаєш боба ділана достатньо добре.. а ще пісні в цьому альбомі дуже нагадують мені пісні Фібі зі серіалу «Друзі». особливо повторення речень і мелодія, коли співають "ла-ла-ла-ла-ла-ла ла-ла". загалом непогано, було трішки смішно, трішки затишно, але потім трішки й релігійно і вже загальне враження погіршене. Я розчарована, відверто кажучи очікувала дещо інакшого ...і кращого.

Less MGMT-like than expected. Pleasantly sombre.

Solid

I like it but prefer other albums

Some early indie rock, I dig it. Has a nice and easy vibe to it throughout and is very easy to listen to. Feel like I've heard of this group somewhere before, but don't think I've ever listened to their music. Solid album.

Much better than the ratings indicate. Almost a full star higher. Probably somewhere in the 3.25 range.

I like get me away im dying Wild to think that this came out in 1996, I really associate them with the early 2000s. This album seems like it could hang out with pulp's common people. It's not my favorite, I feel like this twee stuff doesn't really hit it for me anymore. Judy and the dream of horses is really nice though.

Indie Pop, 1996 -> 3

Folky Smiths. Didn’t change my life but is the grandfather to “ho-hey” of the 2010s.

There weren’t any tracks that really stood out for me. But I am feeling a little less sinister, so there’s that.

Not as good as the other entry from Belle & Sebastian.

Not my favourite album of theirs

Pretty lowkey instrumentation, not much of a fan of the writing. Favourite track: Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying

pleasant sounding rock favorite track: if you’re feeling sinister other picks: fox in the snow, get me away from here, the stars of track and field

ну не прет меня этот фолк ебаны, но слушать могу

It’s like Simon and Garfunkel but not quite as good. 3/5

Eh. Not bad.

I enjoyed it, very solid album. I have a feeling in 1996 this would have felt more like a 4 or 5 star album, but there have been so many similar indie pop bands (influenced by this band of course) that have come along since then that have surpassed this sound that it feels a bit passe. Enjoyable nonetheless, and sounded better/fuller in headphones than in my car on the work commute.

Not that bad, so sleepy

Too twee for me, although Mayfly is a jam. Also, Spotify decided to play Fly by Nick Drake as the first song after the album...and blew it away.

I love “Tigermilk,” but “If You’re Feeling Sinister” has never captured me in the same way. I enjoy the strange lyrics, and the production on B&S albums always sounds crisp and clean, and this record is no exception. But this album didn’t have any songs that stick around in my head after listening, unlike “Tigermilk” or “Dear Catastrophe Waitress.” I recognize that this album was very influential, and it does seem that it should have been released 10 years after it actually did, but I just feel rather middling about it. It does feel hard to imagine Sufjan Stevens or The Shins without this album. Their music tends to reward repeat listens, and I might feel differently after spending more time with this album.

A nice little twee pop album :) Still prefer Julien Baker's version of Get Me Away though.

6/10

perfectly fine background music

This is #day550 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… if you're feeling sinister, this is not the record to reach for. "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" is perhaps the only standout for me. Otherwise, this soft-spoken indie pop charm isn't my jam. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day551.

Seemed like a play, nice

Super chill and easy going, no real complaints here. Kinda sounded like a sad Jack Johnson. I'd be alright with listening to this one again, even if all I can think of is the Jack Black crashout over Belle & Sebastian in High Fidelity.

Nice! Kannte nur einen Song von einer kuratierten Weihnachtsplaylist. Schöner Indie Pop.

Nice! Kannte ich nicht. Schöner Indie Pop.

Pleasant but un memorable

Best Song: Get Away from Here, I'm Dying This is so 90s Indie I feel as though I should spark up an American Spirit, put on some eye liner, and go see my hippy girlfriend with the unshaved armpits rattle over a whole bunch of poetry about her vagina at the nearest college coffee shop. The sad thing is, this would have been better and been more effective in the mid-2000s, I think they were just a decade early. To me it is boring and nothing at all special. 3/5.

Light and breezy, fun folks, garden state esque

Cool indie sound… so 3. But not sure if I will revisit soon.

Listening to Belle & Sebastian is like being setup by your friends on the "perfect" date, and it goes better than you expected... you even reluctantly agree that you friends were right and they might even know you better than you know yourself. Still, walking home, you just know in your gut you're not going to be able to make it work and that it is probably more you than your date or your friends. If you were asked to rate the date, you're dumbstruck. The date is probably a 5 (out of 5), but it just doesn't matter to you.

Low-key vibes👍 cool concept

Alright Indie. Tried very hard to focus and pay attention to lyrics but too easily distracted

Fínasta fínt. En sæki ekki í að hlusta aftur á hana.

Like them but in small doses-moody, dreamy ethereal - their sound is unique but .. see above

Great

It's a difficult album to rate for me. There is a lot of quality which is pretty hard to deny. The lyrics, vocals, arrangements are all quality, but for some reason the music doesn't speak to me fully. It's missing some emotional power, something that would make me feel it more. It's good but rarely great and I find myself gravitating more towards their other albums.

didn’t hate it … few bops in there but don’t see myself wanting to re listen

A little too laid back for me, but solid musicianship.

This album is well crafted and thoughtful, even if it never quite pulls me all the way in. The production is clean and considered, and I appreciated the moments where the band deviates from its core formula and lets the arrangements stretch a bit. Those were the points where the record felt most alive to me. The vocals didn’t fully land. They’re clearly a stylistic choice, but they kept me at a distance emotionally, and the overall softness meant the album often faded into the background unless I made a point to focus. When I did lean in, the lyrics revealed themselves as clever, humane, and quietly observant, which I respected more than I was moved by. This feels like a record that rewards attention but doesn’t demand it, and that’s both its strength and its limitation for me. I can see why it’s beloved, especially for its writing and tone, but it doesn’t alter my musical worldview or feel essential in a personal way. A solid high three: smart, well made, and intermittently engaging, but not something I feel compelled to return to regularly.

Koselig nok.

Nice casual listen.

Interesting folk sound, good but not really my vibe

Nice album, if a little sleepy. The songs sound a bit like Donovan's "Jennifer Juniper".

Indie poppia. Tosi kevyttä ja jopa vähän hempeää. Viulusta tulee pieniä folkki viboja ja kappaleissa myös pieni softrock fiilis. Kappaleet ehkä yksittäisinä vähän mitään sanomattomia ja samanlaisia, mutta kivan hyväntuulista. Parhaat: Like Dylan In The Movies, Mayfly

Heeelt grejjjj, noe kjedelig. Bra for dem at jeg hørte hele før jeg ratet - hadde sett annerledes ut med munnspillet ferskt i minne.

An interesting album. It was repetitive but not in a bad way. Not the kind of album to listen to all in one go but the individual songs are good.

They have another album on the list. I gave it 2 stars. I don't remember what it sounded like. In my review I wrote I read that they had a better album on the list. This is it. Definitely better than 2 star. I don't like the way of singing very much, but I know lots people love it.

I love this band (great live!) but this isn't my favourite album of theirs.

Honestly, I don't know if this album is very twee, or it's a great Sunday morning album. I can't make up my f'n mind on this one. So, three stars with a mind to revisit on a lazy weekend morning.

Another great album to prove why I’m doing this! I didn’t love this and will probably never listen to the album again as a whole but I like a lot of stuff on it. I would have never knew this existed without this app.

i liked the jazz & folk instrumentals; unique

Soothing voice.

Good listening, deep but easy listening

Nothing offensive, nothing really that interesting. Pleasant enough.

chill

belle surprise

Plutôt mid

I remember reading about Belle and Sebastian a lot before I ever heard them. I finally got The Boy With the Arab Strap and it underwhelmed me - I think all the hype from the indie press had built up my expectations too high. Listening to this album now, I definitely hear how influential this band was on the artists who would follow, a lot of whom I really love(d.) Knowing what to expect helped me enjoy this more today.

Ahead of its time. Every hipster Brooklyn band owes a lot to this album.

Very chilled music and it was ok. Again nothing amazing here.

p796. 1996. 3 stars. Donovan for the 1990s. Sharp lyrics, let down by the lack of standout tunes and the fact that all of their songs sound the same. Pleasant enough, but not memorable.

6/10

For me this was mostly forgettable background music. The only one that really caught my attention was “Judy and the Dream of Horses” so nice way to end what for me was very meh otherwise.

Pretty mellow but ultimately not my thing.

Really chill music, to indulge or just leave running in the background (one of few albums i can keep playing while studying). Melancolic voice in an uplifting way, nice acoustic guitar and a calm trumpet on one or the other occasion, what more do you need.